Description

Fewer than a handful known to exist

1944-45 Babe Ruth Signed Albertype (Type I) Hall of Fame
Plaque. Depending on who you ask, the official census of Babe
Ruth signed Hall of Fame plaques stands at either two or three,
including the example we proudly present here. While Cooperstown
souvenir shop relics such as this have been a staple of autograph
collectors for decades now, such was not the case during early
years of their existence; thus the population for Hall of Famers
who passed away prior to 1950 borders on extinction. Walter
Johnson, who passed in 1946, is unknown in this format, and there
may be a single Grover Cleveland Alexander (d. 1950). But a signed
Ruth plaque is widely considered the most coveted of all, perhaps
because he is (relative to the other members of the 1939 inaugural
Hall of Fame class) so abundant in every other incarnation.

So this is, at the risk of trotting out a term too freely used in
auction cataloging, a true "Holy Grail" piece for the advanced Ruth
collector, a relic that outpaces game used jerseys and even
Championship awards in the highly competitive Babe Ruth collecting
subgenre. This earlier version of the Albertype postcard,
identified by the abbreviated state name following
"Cooperstown" on the front, is autographed at the bottom
margin in bold blue fountain pen ink, an autograph that would fall
solidly beneath a Mint 9 header if not for a patch of paper loss
that minimal intrudes upon the final strokes of the letter
"e" in "Babe." We see similar paper loss, due to tape
removal, at each of the other four edges. A small crease appears at
upper right. The reverse is clean and unmarked.

Dedicated plaque collectors are well aware of this fact, but we'll
say it anyhow--this is almost certainly your only shot at
ownership. Carpe diem. Full LOA from James Spence
Authentication.

*A donation of $100 to the American Red Cross is required to attend
the Live auction.